SUBJECT Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'subject' distinct from other similar nouns?

The words citizen and national are common synonyms of subject . While all three words mean "a person owing allegiance to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state," subject implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch. // the king's subjects

Q: When would 'citizen' be a good substitute for 'subject'?

In some situations, the words citizen and subject are roughly equivalent. However, citizen is preferred for one owing allegiance to a state in which sovereign power is retained by the people and sharing in the political rights of those people. // the rights of a free citizen

Q: When is 'national' a more appropriate choice than 'subject'?

The synonyms national and subject are sometimes interchangeable, but national designates one who may claim the protection of a state and applies especially to one living or traveling outside that state. // American nationals working in the Middle East

subject 1 of 3

noun

ˈsəb-jikt

Definition of subject next

as in topic

a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) the subject of our discussion switched from who would be the next president to who was the greatest president in the nation's history

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in citizen

a person who owes allegiance to a government and is protected by it because of the tense situation in that country, British subjects were advised to return home as soon as possible

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as in reason

something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing he has no subject to protest this time, but that's never stopped him before

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subject

2 of 3

verb

səb-ˈjekt

as in to dominate

to bring under one's control by force of arms Attila the Hun subjected most of Europe to his barbaric pillage

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subject

3 of 3

adjective

as in dependent

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word subject distinct from other similar nouns?

The words citizen and national are common synonyms of subject. While all three words mean "a person owing allegiance to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state," subject implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch.

the king's subjects

When would citizen be a good substitute for subject?

In some situations, the words citizen and subject are roughly equivalent. However, citizen is preferred for one owing allegiance to a state in which sovereign power is retained by the people and sharing in the political rights of those people.

the rights of a free citizen

When is national a more appropriate choice than subject?

The synonyms national and subject are sometimes interchangeable, but national designates one who may claim the protection of a state and applies especially to one living or traveling outside that state.

American nationals working in the Middle East

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of subject

Noun

The crash is the subject of a probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and California Highway Patrol. —

Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025 The renewal comes despite the fact that the series is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit. —

Joe Otterson, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025

Verb

But the country has not always welcomed Afghan refugees, subjecting them to hostile living conditions and threatening deportation over the years. —

Sophia Saifi, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025 Another group of agents argued in a second lawsuit Tuesday that releasing their names publicly would subject them to dangerous threats and harassment. —

Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025

Adjective

Now he’s turned his attention to the US government, and federal workers just received a memo with the same subject line. —

Clare Duffy, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025 The 39-year-old also posted a video on this very subject which garnered 1 million views on TikTok. —

Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for subject

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject

Noun

With hot-button topics like the rise of AI on the minds of everyone in Hollywood, this concept may seem like a no-brainer — but the idea has actually been percolating for over 20 years with the Aardman Animations team.

— Katcy Stephan, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Once again, the discussion was a mix of government cost-cutting and topics – space, mobility, and technology – that intersect with Musk’s business empire, as Modi later said on X. Starlink, Musk’s satellite company, is seeking approval to provide wireless internet to India’s 1.4 billion people.

— John Hyatt, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2025